Apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577178-B2
Application number	US-201815905294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2018
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A storage system and a load handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in the storage system are described. The storage system includes a plurality of rails or tracks arranged in a grid pattern above the stacks of containers. The grid pattern can include a plurality of grid spaces and each stack is located within a footprint of only a single grid space. The load handling device is configured to move laterally on the rails or tracks above the stacks. The load-handling device includes a container-receiving space located above the rails or tracks in use and a lifting device arranged to lift a container from a stack into the container-receiving space. The load handling device has a footprint that, in use, occupies only a single grid space in the storage system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A storage system comprising:
a first set of parallel rails or tracks extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending in a second direction transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having plural grid spaces;
a framework for defining columns beneath the plural grid spaces for retaining stacks of containers beneath the first and second sets of rails, and configured such that each stack will be located within a footprint of a single grid space; and
a multiplicity of load handling devices, each load handling device being arranged to selectively move laterally in the first and second directions, above the stacks on the rails,
wherein each load handling device has a footprint that occupies only a single grid space in the storage system when positioned to deposit or retrieve one or more containers to or from a respective stack of containers, such that a load handling device when occupying one grid space will not obstruct a load handling device occupying or traversing adjacent grid spaces in the first and second directions.

2. A storage system according to claim 1 , wherein each load handling device comprises:
a container-receiving space located above the first and second sets of rails, for accommodating a container from the stacks.

3. A storage system according to claim 2 , wherein each load handling device comprises:
a lifting device configured to lift a container from a stack into the container receiving space.

4. A storage system according to claim 3 , wherein the lifting device comprises:
a gripper device configured to grip a container from above the grid spaces.

5. A storage system according to claim 4 , wherein each load handling device comprises:
a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the gripper device relative to the container-receiving space.

6. A storage system according to claim 1 , wherein each load handling device comprises:
a wheel assembly including a first set of wheels for engaging with the first set of parallel rails or tracks to guide movement of the device in the first direction and a second set of wheels for engaging with the second set of parallel rails or tracks to guide movement of the device in the second direction.

7. A storage system according to claim 6 , wherein the wheels are arranged around a periphery of the container-receiving space.

8. A storage system according to claim 6 , wherein each load handling device comprises:
means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first set of wheels with the first set of parallel rails; and
means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second set of wheels with the second set of parallel rails.

9. A storage system according to claim 1 , wherein each load handling device is configured to be independently moveable relative to other load handling devices to allow each load handling device to access different grid spaces.

10. A storage system according to claim 9 , wherein one of the load handling devices is configured for accessing a grid space adjacent, in the first direction, to a grid space being accessed by another of the load handling devices.

11. A storage system according to claim 10 , wherein another one of the load handling devices is configured for accessing a stack adjacent, in the second direction, to a grid space being accessed by the other of the load handling devices.

12. The storage system according to claim 11 , wherein the load handling device comprises:
a container-receiving space configured for accommodating a container from the stacks; and
a lifting device configured to lift a container from a respective column into the container receiving space, the container receiving space being sized to be located within a single grid space.

13. A load handling device for operating in a storage system, the load handling device comprising:
a container receiving space configured to accommodate a container,
wherein the load handling device is configured to occupy only one grid space of a framework when positioned to deposit or retrieve one or more containers to or from a respective stack of containers in the storage system,
wherein the storage system includes a first set of parallel rails or tracks extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending in a second direction transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having plural grid spaces, and
wherein the framework defines columns beneath the plural grid spaces for retaining stacks of containers beneath the first and second sets of rails, and configured such that each stack will be located within a footprint of a single grid space.

Assignees

• Ocado Innovation Ltd

Inventors

• Lindbo Lars Sverker Ture
• Stadie Robert Rolf
• Whelan Matthew Robert
• Brett Christopher Richard James

Classifications

• B65G57/03

  from above · CPC title

• B65G1/0492

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B65G1/0457

  with suspended load carriers · CPC title

• B65G1/0464 Primary

  with access from above · CPC title

• B65G1/04 Primary

  mechanical · CPC title